Improved car-coupling



E. B. KEITH.

Car Coupling.

' N0.9s.77 5. Patented Jan. 11, 1870.

N.PETER5. PIlOTD-UTIiDGRAFHE-R. WASHXNGTUN. D. C.

ETHAN B. KEITH, OF GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

Letters mam No. 98,775, dated January 11, 1870.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all whom "it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ETHAN B. KEITH, of Galesburg, in the county of Kalamazoo, and in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and do hereby de clare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The-nature of my invention consists in the con struetion and arrangement of a car-coupling, which shall be not only self-coupling, but also self-uncoupling, in case of one car running off the track.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a planview, part in section, and

Figure 2 is-a side view.

g A represents the draw-head or bumper, which is slotted horizontally from its mouth, a suitable distance toward its rear.

Oneach side pf the draw-head, in the slot mentioned, is pivoted a jaw, B, which, when in its normal or proper positions, entirely closes the sides of the draw-head.

The rear ends of the jaws B B are pressed outward, by means of a spring, 0, the ends of which are secured, oneto each jaw, thus pressing theforward ends of the jaws sufficiently close together to hold the coupling-link or bar, when inserted between them.

Ata suitable point in front of the pivot-points of the two jaws; their inner edges are cut oval, as seen in fig. 1, and ashaft, it, passes through the draw-head vertically, directly in the centre of the opening formed by these cut-outs in the jaws B B.

On the shaft a, within and fitting said opening, is placed a bar, D, rounded at both ends, which bar or block, when the shaft is turned in either direction, will press against the inner sides of the jaws B B, forcing their front ends outward, and, as soon as said block ing and holding the coupling-link or bar E, the ends of which are in the shape of a spear-point.

When the cars are brought together, the pointed end of the couplingbar E forces the jaws B B apart, until the hooks l) I) catch on the same, when the spring 0, forcing the jaws together, will hold the couplingbar firmly, as long as the cars remain on the track. But should, by any accident, one car get oif the track, the side-motion of the coupling-bar-will at once uncouple the cars, and prevent the next car from going off the track. v

I do not broadly claim, under this patent, the use of two flexible jaws, with a cam between them; nor the use of coupling-link, provided with two shoulders on each end.

What I claim, is--- The draw-h ead A',s1otted horizon tally from its mouth, Q, a portion of the distance to therear, within which are pivoted the jaws B B, forming the sides of the mouth,

and having a recess formed attheir rear ends, within the draw-head, within which is placed the spring 0, having books at each end, which catch into the jaws, and secure the ends of said jaws within the draw-head, and operated substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 27th day of October, 1869.

. Witnesses: ETHAN B. KEITH. EL. s.]

. R. S. VAN VLEET,

WM. H. KING. 

